The Super Eagles of Nigeria concluded 2024 on a disappointing note, wrapping up a year in which they had earlier won nine, lost four, and drawn four in 17 matches.
Having already secured qualification for AFCON 2025 as Group D leaders, interim head coach Austine Eguavoen made three changes to the starting linuep that held Benin Republic to a 1-1 draw in Abidjan on Thursday. Udinese’s Maduka Okoye replaced the excused Stanley Nwabili in goal, while Osayi-Samuel, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, and Victor Boniface were also handed starting roles.
Despite the fresh legs introduced into the lineup, the first half was largely uneventful, with only one shot on target recorded by either side. The second half, however, brought more action as AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze broke the deadlock 14 minutes in with a brilliant solo effort.
It seemed Nigeria was set to finish their 2024 campaign on a high, but Rwanda had other plans. Ange Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti turned the tide with quick goals in the 72nd and 75th minutes, respectively, securing the Wasps’s second win of the qualifying campaign. However, it wasn’t enough to book their spot in Morocco 2025.
The loss ended the Super Eagles’s five-match unbeaten run in the AFCON qualifiers, bringing their final match of the year to a disappointing close on home soil.
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